FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 20, 2008
Contact: Mary Roosevelt, C.E.O. 303-443-0007x113, Cell: 303-883-2605
You don't need a lot of Green$ to be Green!
On May 11, 2008 the
National Association of Home Builders, at its Green Building conference in New Orleans, presented Thistle's
Blue Vista new home development in Longmont, Colorado with its
2008 National GREEN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD. Blue Vista is
one of the first in the country to be both green and affordableto people who earn modest incomes--teachers, health care workers, and retirees. "These honorees are pioneers, artists and building scientists," said NAHB President Sandy Dunn, "They've worked hard to bring sustainable building practices into the mainstream. These winners are not afraid to put great ideas in motion." Added Ray Tonjes, NAHB Green Building subcommittee chair, "NAHB congratulates Blue Vista as a national leader in green building."
Blue Vista is a bright spot in the suffering housing industry. Home buyers receive education and counseling so they can have wise mortgages and sustainable payments. The homes will hold value, and over their life, will save more than $22,000 in energy bills. "Our utility bills that averaged $200 per month in our old place, are now averaging $75 or less per month," said Mike Van-Es, who moved into Blue Vista with his wife and two children this past winter.
Thistle designed Blue Vista (Winner of an American Planning Association award, as well) as a 198-home All American neighborhood. Thistle is selling 100 homes which will be permanently affordable to income-qualified working families, seniors and people with disabilities. These buyers contribute self-help hours to finish their homes with their soon-to-be neighbors. Boulder Creek Life and Home is constructing all 198 homes and is selling the other 98 market rate homes.
Longmont Mayor, Roger Lange said, "Blue Vista was designed and is being built green to far exceed local code standards. The City of Longmont, an All-American Award winning city, has invested in Blue Vista because it addresses un-met affordable housing needs in the City. By using the innovative land trust strategy and green-building practices, Blue Vista is able to benefit the local environment and strengthen the fabric of our community."
Thistle CEO Mary Roosevelt noted, "Green is now becoming a standard choice for consumers in almost every area of their lives, from building to Barbies. We are pleased to offer the best product we can in a very competitive market and we thank NAHB for recognizing our efforts."
Photos/people to interview/quote available on site or off site:
- site with finished and under-construction homes, fantastic views of Long's Peak. Thistle staff can demonstrate and explain built-green components .
- One or more resident families: Mike Van-Es, 1256 Hummingbird Circle B, Longmont CO 80501, (303) 667-0881
- State legislators Claire Levy and/or Brandon Shaffer regarding State of Colorado's help in funding this development
- Rich Jones of Elevations Credit Union who championed the Alliance for the American Dream fund raising campaign
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The mission of Thistle Community Housing is to create and preserve quality, permanently affordable rental and ownership homes for working families, seniors and people with disabilities. A non-profit, Thistle is the largest provider of workforce housing in the area, with 1,000 homes serving 4,000 people per year in Boulder County and Northglenn.
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Founded in 1942, NAHB is a federation of more than 800
state and local associations. About one-third of NAHB's 235,000 members are home builders and/or remodelers.
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